Writing our book spanning 7 years on the road takes me to those past times when the future was so uncertain. As it is today. We never know the day before that day. The contents of this Journal are of the now when writing such a book.

“For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, "Blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks." Thus I became a madman. And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness; the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us. But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a thief in a jail is safe from another thief.” ~ Khalil Gibran ~

These days all have been a game of regaining a balance on this new path so unlike the almost now past 7 years. I hear with winds blowing in our direction the bikes going down the road towards Terlingua for a weekend bash. I know there is much music on the Porch, it is one of those musical weekend. Musicians from all over the place have come in to perform. Yet, we stay here for the much hours needed writing our Book. My experiences are now mental as we only leave this space once a week. Maybe twice. I do take in everything happening here though. The moon rise last night from behind Nine Point and this morning the moon set behind almost Solitario. Magical sights.

I am still into our first year, that first year ending with the purchase of “The Oasis”, and starting to discover the faint differences in my mind set between then and now. My love for Mother Nature had always been there, my inexperience and lack of knowledge of destinations was also there, while missing so many treasures riding from point A to point B. Too many public spaces throughout that first year. The inability to find much free camping isolated from it all, while instead amidst much crowd and noises and sometimes even pollution we poorly tried to avoid.

Learning to live on the road comes easy now, it was not as such throughout those times. We were moving on as having a list I needed to cross its names off one at the time. Sedona, Red Rock Canyon near by Las Vegas, Valley of Fire, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and more. Wonderful of course destinations everyone should see at least once in their lives as we did, crossed off now. Maybe off season. Yet, done, as today searching for more of the unknown, the what I call “buried treasures”.

The weather is finally changing here with the nights being not cold but cool. It is that time to bring out the riding layers if we want to leave early and stay out late. I can take this weather all year round. It is perfect and so is this space. The silence has not changed, life has a bit right now. The simplicity of the landscape is the same. It can be seen in the photography. Anticipation of the pages written have rolled in in waves. I must write for so many hours a day, for so many days a week. I then on realized it was the wrong way to think about it. I think by the week now. So many words and so much of a timeframe from a Monday through a Sunday. This is all so new.

My times spend with Spirit does not suffer. He comes first. It is a priority for the both of us keeping a healthy mental and physical outlook. I could use his help as he does help. Moral support. Playtime is present and always will be. My own playtime has been taken away replaced with the memories while reading my own past words. Some cooking here and there. Most has been mainly replaced with peanut butter and jelly, much oatmeal. Priorities. I am 25,000 words into it.

The entries written are passing by. I am amazed of all the places we have been, everything that I have felt, the lessons learned, and feel so fortunate I have kept this Journal going. Some entries surprise me as I had forgotten their content, the surprise is also the fact that I can vividly remember those past moments. I guess my memory is still intact. I think my Friend who is editing as I go along my blatant English grammar errors is having a blast, and it is now like having a great dancing partner. She knows I do not, as they say, “write properly”. The knowledge of French Literature has never left me. She leaves much of it alone, yet, over and over they present the same errors to the point that it is funny.

We did take a ride to Alpine a couple days ago. I paid the price with a bit more of back pain, but the ride was much needed to clear up the mind. A few errands, some great BBQ at the newly opened “Cowboy Grill”, bumping into friends, it all made it for a nice day. I think we will go on to Ft Davis next time and meet up again with Ron, the “broommaker” and his wife Marcha.

5 Responses to “Third week at “The Oasis”, Texas”

Howdy Ara & Spirit,
Ara, Spirit looks kinda sad, like he’d be much happier in his side-car !!! Write THE BOOK, but don’t make it WORK; remember the happy moments, enjoy the memories and it’ll be a whole lot easier/relaxing… Are you writing in German?? Sometimes it seems that a little bit of German syntax comes through…
If a ‘run’ to Alpine is causing you very much pain, you’re in a bad way, riding the bike… Better get you a HONDA, if it’ll hook-up to the side-car… A whole lot more comfortable than the Boxer…. I would say YAMAHA, though I’m a Honda man…. I KNOW, I KNOW IT’S A JAP-BIKE, BUT MORE COMFORTABLE !!!

Hope your back gets to feeling better and please, pet Spirit for us….

Joyce says, use a WARM MOIST TOWEL on your back, to ease the pain… It works for us….

Dear Ara and Spirit,
give time to time and like now reprocess the lived is a very sane exercise that helps to clean up someones own mind. In your actual case it helps to analyse clearly at the same time, where you are and where you want to head to. We wish you the best on this time journey to youself. You might feel like in “time tunnel” more then once in the month to come.
Enjoy every minute.
Thomas and Sven from Costa Rica

Hi Ara and Spirit
Do enjoy reading your blog and your photos are great!
Have had back problems myself for years and I know how you feel. Finally the lower spine fused together by itself and no more pain! Mother Nature did what the doctors couldn’t….hang in there…..Carl